Malaysia – 25,000 Evacuate Floods in Terengganu and Kelantan

Floods have forced thousands of people to evacuate their homes in several states of peninsula Malaysia, in particular Terengganu and Kelantan, where levels of at least 5 rivers are above the danger mark.

Parts of Terengganu and Kelantan have been affected by flooding since 31 December, 2016. Over 6,000 people were in evacuation shelters as of 01 January 2017. This figure has since increased to over 25,000, with 12,910 currently displaced in Terengganu and 12,615 in Kelantan as of 04 January 2017

Flooding has blocked roads, hindering transport and cutting off some villages. Authorities have closed schools in the region.

No injuries or fatalities have been reported.

Floods in Terengganu State

In the state of Terengganu, 12,910 people are currently displaced, an increase of around 5,000 from the previous day. There are in 123 evacuation shelters in operation to house those evacuated.

Six districts currently affected by flooding: Hulu Terengganu, which is the worst hit, Besut, Kemaman, Setiu, Dungun and Marang.

The heavy rain has been falling for 5 days (see rainfall figures below). Angga in Besut district recorded more than 1 metre of rain between 31 December to 03 January. At least 14 other locations have recorded more than 500 mm of rain during the same period.

Civil Defence rescue workers have been deployed in the state to conduct search and rescue operations.

Rivers in Terengganu

As of 04 January, the Dungun river at Jambatan Jerangau, Dungun, stood at 12.94 metres, exceeding danger level of 12.5. The Dungun at Kuala Jengai, Dungun district, was above the danger level of 21 metres, standing at 21.58 metres.

Floods in Kelantan State

At least 3 locations in the state have recorded over 500 mm of rain in 4 days to 03 January (see rainfall figures below).

According to the latest report from the state government, flooding is affecting the districts of Bachok, Kota Bharu, Kuala Krai, Machang, Pasir Mas, Pasir Puteh, Tanah Merah and Tumpat.

As many as 12,615 people from 4,298 families are currently evacuated in the state and staying in 65 evacuation centres in the state.

Rivers in Kelantan

Two rivers – the Golok and the Kelantan – are currently above danger levels. The Golok River, which runs along parts of the border between Malaysia and Thailand, has flooded the town of Rantau Panjang, Pasir Mas district, where it currently stands at 10.31 metres, above the 9 metre danger mark.

The Pasir Mas district is by far the worst hit area in the state, with 8,679 people displaced, staying in 35 evacuation centres.

The Golok has also overflowed at Kuala Jambu in Tumpat, where it stands at 3.42 metres, above the 2.5 metre danger level.

The Kelantan river is slightly above the 16 metre danger level at Kusial, Tanah Merah, where it currently stands at 16.43 metres.

Kelantan December 2014 Floods

Kelantan suffered massive floods and major destruction of homes and infrastructure in December 2014. Over 200,000 were forced to evacuate their homes and 21 people died in the floods, which were labelled the worst in the state’s history.

Rainfall Figures

The figures below are from the Department of Irrigation and Drainage in Malaysia.

Rainfall in Terengganu

31 December 2016

Kuala Ping, Hulu Terengganu – 443 mm

Kg Bukit Diman, Hulu Terengganu – 394 mm

Jam.Pengkalan.Berangan, Marang – 348 mm

Kg.Dura, Hulu Terengganu -261 mm

Kg.Menerong, Hulu Terengganu -257 mm

Bandar Al Muktafi Billah Shah, Dungun – 251 mm

Jambatan Jerangau, Dungun – 243 mm

Jam.Chalok, Setiu – 241 mm

Kg.Kuala Jengai, Dungun – 238 mm

Kg.Keruak, Besut – 231 mm

Sek.Men.Badrul Alam Shah, Kemaman – 223 mm

Kg.La, Besut – 221 mm

Pusat Kesihatan, Paka Dungun – 218 mm

Kg.Besut, Setiu – 217 mm

Angga, Besut – 214 mm

01 January 2017

Institut Pertanian Tok Dor, Besut – 168 mm

Angga, Besut – 142 mm

02 January 2017

Kg.Keruak, Besut – 240 mm

Yak Yah, Kemaman – 170 mm

Angga, Besut – 152 mm

Kg.La, Besut – 151 mm

03 January, 2017

Angga, Besut – 498 mm

Kg.Menerong, Hulu Terengganu – 429 mm

Kg.La, Besut – 411 mm

Kg.Besut, Setiu – 390 mm

Kg.Kuala Jengai, Dungun – 348 mm

Kg.Keruak, Besut – 312 mm

Kg Embong, Hulu Terengganu – 279 mm

Kuala Ping, Hulu Terengganu – 268 mm

Jambatan Jerangau, Dungun – 265 mm

Bandar Al Muktafi Billah Shah, Dungun – 241 mm

Jam.Chalok, Setiu – 239 mm

JPS Kemaman, Kemaman – 235 mm

Yak Yah, Kemaman – 220 mm

Rainfall in Kelantan

Over 500 mm of rain fell between 30 December and 03 January in Kampung Jenob, Tanah Merah district (520 mm), Empangan Bukit Kwon, Pasir Mas district (556 mm) and Kusial in Tanah Merah district (625 mm).

31 December 2016

Dabong, Kuala Krai – 248 mm

Kampung Tualang, Kuala Krai – 186 mm

Kampung Laloh, Kuala Krai – 203 mm

Kuala Krai, Kuala Krai – 231 mm

Kusial, Tanah Merah 189 mm

01 January 2017

Kusial, Tanah Merah – 145 mm

Kampung Jenob, Tanah Merah – 123 mm

02 January 2017

Kusial Tanah Merah – 131 mm

Kampung Jenob, Tanah Merah -149 mm

Kampung Jeli, Jeli – 106 mm

Empangan Bukit Kwong, Pasir Mas – 139 mm

03 January 2017

Kusial, Tanah Merah – 150 mm

Kuala Jambu, Tumpat – 158 mm

Pasir Puteh, Pasir Puteh – 230 mm

Rantau Panjang, Pasir Mas – 119 mm

Air Mulih, Pasir Mas – 242 mm

Empangan Bukit Kwong, Pasir Mas – 158 mm

Floods in Sabah State

Other areas of Malaysia have also seen heavy rain in the last 24 hours. Floods have struck as many as 10 villages in Sabah state on Borneo island due to heavy rain, according to Bernama news agency.